Latch operated timer switch



April 26, 1966 R. M. BASSETT 3,248,493

LATCH I OPERATED TIMER SWITCH Filed Dec. 2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 101 fig. r J: @,1%

F 150 131 165 164 11 j I 10075 g 16} 119 Id 66 107 April 26, 1966 R. M. BASSETT LATCH OPERATED TIMER SWITCH Filed D80. 2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ECCENTRIC CAM DRIVEN BY GEAR TRAIN 49 A ril 26, 1966 R. M. BASSETT 3,248,493

LATCH OPERATED TIMER SWITCH Filed Dec. 2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig 6.

April 26, 1966 R. M. BASSETT LATCH OPERATED TIMER SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2. 1963 April 26, 1966 R. M, BASSETT 3,248,493

LATCH OPERATED TIMER SWITCH Filed Dec. 2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fig. fig. Z1.

United States Patent 3,248,493 LATCH OPERATED TIMER SWITCH Ronald M. Bassett, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Register Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,218 14 Claims. (Cl. 20039) This invention relates, generally, to circuit makers and breakers and it has particular relation to time switches. 7 Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for Operating a switch from one position to an alternate position for a short interval of time, such as 15 seconds, and for one or more times during a relatively long period, such as 3 hours, under the control of timing means that is cyclically operable on a 24 hour or daily basis; to arrange for selecting the particular day or days in successive days in which the switch is to be operated in the relatively longperiod; to shift the switch from one position to the alternate position as the result of forward movement of a cam driven with a ratchet wheel by an oscillating index pawl and to return the switch to the one position as the result of reverse movement of the index pawl; to latch a latch lever to a latch arm associated with the switch for shifting the latter to the alternate position under the biasing action of a spring as controlled by the movement of the cam and to unlatch the latch lever from the latch arm under the control of the index pawl with the switch being returned to the one position by another spring; to provide an unlatch lever under the control of the index pawl for unlatching the latch lever from the latch arm; to arrange the latch lever for both rotary and translatory movement for latching and unlatching with the spring biased latch arm; to arrange the unlatch lever to engage the latch lever and move it translatorily to disengage the latch arm; to mount the latch lever for rotary movement only and to provide it with a locking lever for latching engagement with the latch arm; and to bias the locking lever to latching engagement with the latch arm and to arrange for the unlatch lever to engage the locking lever and move it out of engagement with the latch arm.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical plan view of a time switch embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the time switch shown in .FIG. 1, the view being taken looking from right to left.

FIG. 3 is a view, in rear elevation, of the time switch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2 and showing the index pawl on the index lever idling in a tooth space on the ratchet wheel.

FIG. 4a is an elevational view, at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the ratchet wheel and shows where a tooth has been omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the index lever having been moved to move the ratchet wheel beyond the normal extent of movement under the control of the oscillating index pawl.

FIG. 6 is a view, in side elevation, of the time switch shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken looking from left to right.

FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the mounting plate and parts carried thereby near its upper end for the purpose of showing the latch lever in the normal unoperated position and ready for operation on engagement therewith by a cam lobe.

FIG. 8 is a view, in end elevation, of the shaft to which the rotatable operating member is attached and has mounted thereon the latch arm.

3,248,493 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 FIG. 9 is a view, in side elevation, of the assembly shown in FIG. 8. 4

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are views, similar to FIG. 7, but showing different positions of the cam lobe and the devices operated thereby. 1

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views, at an enlarged scale, to show different positions of a yoke arranged to operate a switch from one position to an alternate position under the control of difierent cam lobes.

FIG. 15 illustrates graphically the variably spaced impulses or times of switch operation during the relatively long period in a day that has been pre-selected for effecting the desired sequence of operations and switch closures.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 16--16-of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are views, similar to FIGS. 7, 10, 11 and 12, and show a modified construction of the latch lever.

FIG. 21 is a view, in side elevation and at an enlarged scale, of the latch lever shown in FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and FIG. 22 is a view, in front elevation, of the latch lever shown in FIG. 21, a portion of the mounting plate being shown in section.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 of 'the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a time switch in which the present invention is embodied. The time switch 10 can be mounted in a suitable housing such as that illustrated A. D. Stolle, US. Patent No. 2,839,624, issued June 17, 1958.

The time switch 10 includes a metallic mounting plate 11 that is generally rectangular in configuration and is provided with various openings, cut out sections, etc., to facilitate mounting of the various parts of the time switch 10 thereon. Mounted on the rear of the plate 11 is an insulating support 12 that is secured in position by screws 13 which extend through an insulating cover 14. Underneath the insulating cover 14 are single pole double throw switches that are indicated, generally, at 15 and 16. The switch 15 includes stationary contacts 17 and 18 from which terminal lugs 19 and 20 extend. A movable contact 21 is arranged to be operated from engagement with stationary contact 17 or from one position into engagement with the other stationary contact 18 or to an while the other end engages a nose 24 of a rotatable operating member 25. It will be understood that the rotatable operating member 25 is rotatably mounted on the insulating support 12 and extends through it and through the mounting plate 11 to the front side thereof in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. Stops 26 and 27 on opposite sides of the nose 24 serve to limit the extent of rotary motion of the operating member 25 in either direction.

The present invention can be practiced by using only the single pole double throw switch 15 controlled as described hereinafter. However, it may be desirable to provide for additional control functions. For this purpose the switch 16 can be employed. It comprises stationary contacts 27 and 28 which are connected to terminal lugs 29 and 30. A movable contact 31 is arranged to engage the stationary contact 27 in one position and to be moved to engage the stationary contact 28 in an alternate position. the movable contact 31. In order to move the contact 31 with a snap action a C-shaped over center spring 33 is em-' A terminal lug 32 is connected to I 3 ployed with its lower end in engagement with the upper end of the movable contact 31 while its upper end engages a nose 34 of a rotatable operating member 35 which, like the member 25, is rotatably mounted on the insulating support 12 and extends through the mounting plate 11 to be rotated in a manner to be described. Stops 36 cooperate with the operating member 35 to limit its rotation in one direction or the other.

At the lower end of the insulating support 12 line terminals 37 and 38 are provided and are arranged to be connected to a suitable source of alternating current such as 115 volt 6O cycle source. Mounted on the rear side of the mounting plate 11 is a synchronous motor 39, of conventional construction, that is arranged to rotate at a speed determined by the frequency of the alternating current source. It is arranged to drive an output shaft 40 through a suitable gear train. Conductors 41 and 42 serve to connect the synchronous motor 39 for energization to the line terminals 37 and 38. Jumper conductors 43 and 44 are arranged to interconnect certain of the terminal lugs, the particular connections made depending upon the circuits that are to be controlled. It will be understood that various circuit arrangements can be provided for variously interconnecting the switches 15 and 16 with external circuits that are to be controlled. In addition, if desired, additional single pole double throw switches, similar to the switches 15 and 16, can be mounted on the insulating support 12 and operated by the rotatable operating members 25 and 35. A housing portion 45 integral with the insulating support 12 serves to enclose the line terminals 37 and 38 in order to prevent accidental contact therewith from the front of the time switch 10.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that the output shaft 40 extends through the mounting plate 11 and carries a pinion 48 that is employed for driving a gear train which is indicated, generally, at 49. The gear train 49 terminates in a pinion 50 that meshes with a gear 51 with the arrangement being such that the gear 51 rotates one revolution during each 24 hours of the day. Rotatable with the gear 51 is a spacing sleeve 52 which is secured to a time dial 53 that is provided with an hours scale along its periphery. The gear 51, sleeve 52 and time dial 53 are slidable axially along a shaft or pin 54 that extends rearwardly from the mounting plate 11. This arrangement is provided in order to permit setting of the time dial 53 to the correct time of day and to disengage the gear 51 from the pinion 50 in order to permit such movement. A coil spring 55 acts to bias the gear 51, sleeve 52 and time dial 53 into the position shown in FIG. 6 where the pinion 50 is in driving engagement with the gear 51. The coil spring 55 is interposed between the time dial 53 and a stationary time dial plate 56 that is mounted on the shaft or pin 54. A portion of the time dial plate 56 is visible plate 64 rotates through a complete revolution its shoulder 65 engages one of the teeth 66 on the skipper dial 67 and advances it to the next position. Slidably mounted on the skipper dial 67 are skipper pins 69 which are movable parallel to the axis of rotation of the skipper dial 67. For illustrative purposes seven skipper pins 69 are shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, one pin for each day of the week. However, other numbers, such as twelve, can be through a window 57, FIG. 1, in an operation time plate 58 that is held in position by a screw 59 but which, when the screw 59 is loosened, can be rotated for the purpose of shifting an index 60 relative to the time scale on the stationary time dial plate 56 for the purpose of setting the time at which the relatively long period, referred to hereinbefore, is to begin in a 24 hour period. Another index 61 is carried by the operation time plate 58 in order to facilitate positioning of the time dial 53 to the correct time of day.

In order to permit initiation of the sequence of operation in the relatively long period in a pre-selected day, a tripper plate 64 is positioned between the gear 51 and the time dial 53 and extends radially as seen more clearly in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The tripper plate 64 has an outer shoulder 65, FIG. 6, that is arranged to engage the teeth 66 on a skipper dial 67 that is rotatably mounted on a shaft or pin 68 that extends from the mounting plate 11. It will be understood that each time that the tripper used where it is desired to have the switch operation to take place every other day or every three days or four days, etc., as may be desired.

It will be apparent from FIG. 6 that, when the time dial 53 is moved outwardly for time setting purposes, a notch 70 in the tripper plate 64 registers with the teeth 66 on the skipper dial 67 and the outer shoulder 65 is moved out of the path of the teeth 66 to permit free positioning of the time dial 53.

At the bottom of the notch 70 is a shoulder 71 that is arranged to engage a drive arm 72, FIGS. 4 and 5, that is located on an outer branch of a U-shaped tripper lever 73 which is mounted for rotation on a shaft or pin 74 that extends from the mounting plate 11. A notch 75 in the tripper plate 64 permits the latter to move readily past the drive arm 72 when the time dial 53 is moved outwardly for time setting purposes.

When the skipper pins 69 are depressed, their ends 78 extend to the left of the skipper dial 67 as viewed in FIG. 6. In this position these ends 78 are arranged successively to engage a skipper arm 79 which is located on the same branch of the tripper lever 73 that carries the drive arm 72. The arrangement is such that, as long as the ends 78 of the skipper pins 69 successively engage the skipper arm 79, the drive arm 72 is held out of driving engagement with the shoulder 71 on the tripper plate 64. As a result no action takes place during the particular day corresponding to the skipper pin 69 that is depressed and engages the skipper arm 79 and swings the tripper lever 73.

However, when one of the skipper pins 69 is pulled outwardly, as shown in FIG. 6, its end 78 has been moved to the right and out of the path of the skipper arm 79. Accordingly, for the particular day corresponding to the skipper pin 69 that has been withdrawn, the shoulder 71 on the tripper plate 64 is permitted to engage the drive arm 72 and to rotate the tripper lever 73 through a substantial extent for a purpose that will be apparent presently.

The tripper lever 73, which is of U-shape, is provided with a driven arm 80 that forms a part of the branch opposite the branch carrying the arms 72 and 79. The driven arm 80 is arranged to engage an outstanding tongue 81 that forms a part of an index lever 82 which is mounted for both rotary and translatory movement on the shaft or pin 74. Near its upper end the index lever 82 carries an index pawl 83 and it is arranged to be oscillated by the driven arm 80 on engagement with the outstanding tongue 81 to an extent that is substantially greater than the extent through which it is moved under the control of an eccentric cam 84 which is driven through the gear train 49 by the synchronous motor 39. The arrangement is such that the eccentric cam 84 rotates once every one and one half minutes and thereby effects a corresponding forward and reverse movement of the index lever 82 and index pawl 83 carried thereby during this interval. As long as the synchronous motor 39 continues to be energized, the eccentric cam 84 continues to operate the index lever 82 and to oscillate the index pawl 83. The eccentric cam 84 cooperates with a slot 85 in the lower end of the index lever 82. A coil tension spring 86 is secured to the upper end of the index lever 82 at 87. At its lower end the coil tension spring 86 is secured to the bottom of the U-shaped tripper lever 73 at 88. In this manner the tripper lever 73 is normally biased to the position shown in FIG. 4 and I the index lever 84 is normally biased downwardly to the position shown in this figure.

The index pawl 83 is arranged to engage ratchet teeth 89 that are located on the periphery of a ratchet wheel 90 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft or pin 91 that extends from the mounting plate 11. The arrangement is such that the index lever 82 and index pawl 83 are oscillated through an extent sufficient to engage and move one of the ratchet teeth 89 and therewith the ratchet wheel 90 through an angular extent corresponding to the length of the individual ratchet tooth 89. Since the ratchet teeth 89 are uniformly positioned around the periphery of the ratchet wheel 90 and, for illustrative purposes, one hundred twenty three ratchet teeth 89 are so positioned, once the index lever 82 starts to rotate the ratchet wheel 90, it requires slightly more than three hours for a complete rotation of it to be effected.

Cooperating with the ratchet wheel 90 is a retaining pawl 92 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft or pin 74. The retaining pawl 92 carries teeth 93 that are arranged to engage the teeth 89 of the ratchet wheel 90 which are opposite it for the purpose of preventing reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel 90. A spring 94 acts to bias the retaining pawl 92 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 90. One end of the spring 94 is connected to a notched end 95 of the retaining pawl 92. The other end of the spring 94 is anchored to the shaft or pin 68 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

It'will be observed that the retaining pawl 92 which is in the form of a lever pivoted intermediate its ends is positioned on the shaft or pin 74 in overlying relation to the index lever 82 and between it and the rear branch of the tripper lever 73. In order to guide the end of the retaining pawl 92 carrying the teeth 93, it is positioned underneath a lug 96 that is struck from the mounting plate 11. In a similar manner a similar lug 97 is struck from the mounting plate 11 for the purpose of guiding the upper end of the index lever 82 in its rotary and translatory movement under the control of the eccentric cam 84 or under the control of the driven arm 80 in the manner previously described.

As shown in FIG. 4a the ratchet wheel 90 is provided with the ratchet teeth 89 along its periphery except for the tooth space 98. Thus one of the ratchet teeth 89 is omitted in providing the tooth space 98. The purpose of it is to permit the index lever 82 to idle and move the index pawl 83 through the extent caused by the rotation of the eccentric cam 84, which is continuous, without causing any rotation of the ratchet wheel 90.

It will be recalled that, when one of the skipper pins 69 is pulled out, the tripper plate 64 is effective to have the shoulder 71 engage the drive arm 72 of the tripper lever 73. This causes rotation of the tripper lever 73 and therewith the movement of the driven arm 80 into engagement with the outstanding tongue 81 on the index lever 82. The effect of this operation is to move the index lever .82 through an extent that is substantially greater than it is moved by the eccentric 84. Accordingly, on the counterclockwise rotation of the tripper lever 73, FIG. 5, the index lever 82 s moved from its position shown in FIG. 4 more than the angular distance of one of the ratchet teeth 89.

As a result there is a corresponding rotation of the ratchet wheel 90 such that, on retraction of the index lever 82 by the spring 86, the next forward movement of the index lever 82 as caused 'by the eccentric cam 84 is effective to start advancing the ratchet wheel 90 since the index pawl 83 next is in engagement with the tooth 89 immediately adjacent the tooth space 98. The continued rotation of the eccentric cam 84 then periodically advances and retracts the index lever 82 once each one and one half minutes with the result that a complete rotation of the ratchet wheel 90 is effected in slightly more than three hours. When the ratchet wheel-90 has been rotated to such position that the index pawl 83 idles in the tooth space 98, no further stepwise rotation of the ratchet wheel takes place.

When the indexpawl 83 is idling in the tooth space 98 and it is desired manually to initiate a sequence of operations that normally takes place under the control of the tripper plate 64, an arm 99 is provided on the index lever 82 for manual movement. The arm 99 extends through an opening 100 in an upper bearing plate 101 Y which is secured, in part, by a screw 102 to a stud 103 that extends from the mounting plate 11. It will be noted that the outer end of the shaft or pin 74 extends through a slot in the lower end of the upper bearing plate 101 and serves as a support therefor. An arrow 104 located on the upper bearing plate 101 indicates the direction in which the arm 99 is to be moved manually in the opening 100 to effect the forward movement of the index lever 82 sufficient to advance the ratchet wheel 90 slightly more than one tooth or in the same manner that it is advanced by the tripper plate 64 in timed relation. Once the arm 99 has been operated, the cycle is begun, which will be described, that is completed during the rotation of the ratchetwheel 90 through a complete revolution.

Also provided on the upper bearing plate 101 is an index 105 that registers with one of the skipper pins 69 on the skipper dial 67. The index 105 shows the par ticular day corresponding to the skipper pin 69 in alignment therewith. Thus, if seven skipper pins 69 are employed, as shown, the index 105 points to the particular day of the week during which the time switch 10 is operating.

Rotatable with the ratchet wheel 90 is a stack of cams that is indicated, generally, at 107 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings. The stack of cams 107 is held in position for rotation on the shaft or pin 91 by an internally threaded screw 108 that extends through a knob 109 which facilitates manual rotation of the stack of cams 107.

The stack of cams 107 comprises generally circular cams 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115, the latter being a part of the knob 109. These cams are individually adjustable relative to each-other in order to variably position cam lobes 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120 which form integral parts of and extend radially from the cams 111, 112, 113 and 114 and 115, respectively. Under-certain circumstances it may be desirable to have two of the cam lobes in overlying relation. In such a case the corresponding two cams which are adjacent, preferably are secured together by adhesive means, for example, in order to insure that the cam lobes remain in registry.

The. cam lobes, except cam lobe 120, are arranged to operate a generally U-shaped latch lever 123, FIG. 16, that is mounted for rotary and translatory movement. The U-shaped. latch lever 123 has a flat bottom 124 and front and rear arms 125 and 126 that are provided with slots 127 and 128, respectively, to permit the rotary and translatory movement. The latch lever 123 is mounted on a shaft 129, FIGS. 8 and 9, which extends from and is rotatable with the operating member 25 which controls the operation of the switch 15. It will be observed that the reduced diameter end portion 130 of the shaft 129 projects through the slot 127 in the front arm 125 and through a suitable opening in the upper bearing plate 101, FIG. 1, wherean E shaped spring washer 131 serves as an additional means for holding the upper bearing plate 101 in position.

The forward edge 132, FIG. 7, of the flat bottom 124 constitutes a cam follower that is arranged to be contacted successively by the cam lobes 116, 117, 118, and 119 as they are moved in a stepwise fashion along with the ratchet wheel 90 under the control of the index lever 82 in the manner previously described.

FIG. 7 shows the-unoperated position of the U-shaped latch lever 123 with the operating member 25, FIG. 3, in a position that may be termed one position of he switch 15. In accordance with this invention'provision is made for rotating the operating member 25 to the alternate position to shaft the movable contact 21 from engagement with the stationary contact 17 into contact engagement with the stationary contact 18 for a relatively short time, such as fifteen seconds. This is acoorn? plished, in part, by engagement of one of the cams, for example the cam lobe 1-16, with the cam follower forward edge 132 of the latch lever 123 as shown in FIG. 10. As a result of this engagement the latch lever 123 is moved upwardly and rotated as permitted by the slots 127 and 128 in the front and rear arms 125 and 126. When this movement occurs, a notch 133 in the rear arm 126 is moved into registry with a forwardly extending section 134 of a latch arm 135, FIGS. 8 and 9, that is secured to and rotates with the operating member 25. At its distal end the latch arm 135 is provided with a hook 136. A relatively weak coil tension spring 137 is connected to the hook 136 at the distal end of the latch 135. The other end of the spring 137 is anchored to a shaft or pin 138 that extends from. the metallic mounting plate 11. Normally the coil tension spring 137 acts to bias the operating member 25 to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the movable contact 21 engages the stationary contact 17 in what is considered to be one position of the switch 15. The rotation of the latch lever 123 by engagement of the cam lobe 116 with the forward edge 132 is opposed by a relatively strong coil tension spring 139 one end of which is fastened at 140 to the rear edge portion of the fiat bottom 124 of the latch lever 123 while the other end is anchored to the shaft or pin 138. The coil tension spring 139 acts to bias the latch lever 123 in a clockwise direction. Such movement is limited by a tongue 141 on engagement with the stud 103 as shown in FIG. 7.

' The continued movement of the ratchet wheel 90 and the cam lobe 116 carried thereby as the result of subsequent oscillations of the index lever 82 moves the cam lobe 116 from the position shown in FIG. where it is in engagement with the forward edge 132 of the latch lever 123 to the position shown in FIG. 11 where it disengages therefrom. As soon as this takes place, the relatively strong coil tension spring 139 rocks the latch lever 123 to the position here shown and, since the section 134 of the latch arm 135 engages the notch 133, it and the operating member 25 are rotated together with the result that the movable contact 21, FIG. 3, is shifted from the one position to an alternate position where it has disengaged the stationary contact 17 and has engaged the stationary contact 18. The interval of time during which the stationary contact 18 is engaged depends upon the interval of time that the operating member 25 is held in the alternate position corresponding to the position of the latch lever 123 as shown in FIG. 11.

In order to move the latch lever 123 translatorily for disengaging it from the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135 and shifting it to the position shown in FIG. 12 an unlatch lever 143 is provided and it is pivotally mounted on the shaft or pin 138. The unlatch lever 143 has an outstanding detent 144 from a generally horizontally extending arm 145 that is arranged to engage a curved surface 147 on the rear arm 126 of the latch lever 123. The unlatch lever 143 is arranged to be rotated in a clockwise direction for effecting this movement of the latch lever 123. For this purpose the unlatch lever 143 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 148 having a hook 149 at its distal end to which one end of a coil tension spring 150 is attached. The other end of the coil tension spring 150 is anchored in an opening 151 in the mounting plate 11.

At the time that the index lever 82 was moved forwardly to cause the index pawl 83 to advance the ratchet wheel 90 accompanied by engagement of the cam lobe 116 with the forward edge 132 of the latch lever 123 to move it to the position shown in FIG. 10, an outstanding detent 152 from the intermediate portion of the arm 145 of the unlatch lever 143 is engaged by a shoulder same as described for the cam lobe 116.

153 on the index lever 82. As the index lever 82 is moved forwardly, the shoulder 153 engages the detent 152 and rocks the unlatch lever 143 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 10. During the next forward movement of the index lever 82, the unlatch lever 143 is again rocked in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 11. On retraction of the index lever 82 and movement of the cam lobe 116 out of engagement with the forward edge 132 of the latch lever 123, the latch lever 123 no longer is held in the elevated position. Accordingly, on reverse movement of the index lever 82 under the control of the eccentric cam 84, the shoulder 153 moves downwardly and permits the spring to rock the unlatch lever 143 in a clockwise direction. The outstanding detent 144 on the arm 145 then engages the curved surface 147 on the rear arm 126 and moves the latch lever 123 to the position shown in FIG. 12. As a result of this movement, the notch 133 is lowered and the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135 is released. Accordingly, the relatively weak coil tension spring 137 then is free to rotate the latch arm 135 and operating member 25 back to the one position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 3 of the drawings. The rocking movement of the latch lever 123 in a clockwise direction under the influence of the coil tension spring 139 is limited by engagement of the tongue 141 with the stud FIG. 15 illustrates graphically the operation of the movable contact 21 into and out of engagement with the stationary contact 18. Here it will be assumed that the index lever 82 and the index pawl 83 are rotating the ratchet wheel 90 in a stepwise fashion in the manner described and that the cam lobes 116, 117, 118 and 119 move successively into and out of engagement with the cam follower forward edge 132 on the flat bottom 124 of the latch lever 123. The operation for shifting the movable contact 21 by each of these cam lobes is the In FIG. 15 current impulse 156 represents current flow during the time that the movable contact 21 is in engagement with the stationary contact 18. The arrangement is such that this contact engagement is maintained for approximately fifteen seconds. Accordingly, the current impulse 156 is shown as of relatively short time. The next current impulse 157 depends upon the angular spacing of the cam lobe 117 from the cam lobe 116. For example it may be so spaced that there is a sixty minute interval between the impulses 156 and 157. In like manner the cam lobe 118 causes the current impulse 158 and it may be so spaced that there is a twenty minute interval between the current impulses 157 and 158. Finally the cam lobe 119 causes the current impulse 159 which may occur thirty minutes after the current impulse 158 has occurred. Thereafter the broken line 160 indicates a passage of one or more days before the operation is repeated and the current impulses 156, 157, 158 and 159 caused during a succeeding predetermined day, depending upon the adjustment of the time switch'10.

In order to accomplish additional control functions, the single pole double throw switch 16 is provided together with its operator 35. However, provision is made for shifting the movable contact 31 of the switch 16 only once for each revolution of the ratchet wheel 90. The

operating member 35 is essentially the same in construction as the operating member 25, shown in FIG. 9, and it has extending therefrom and rotatable therewith a shaft 162, FIG. 2, that corresponds to the shaft 129. The shaft 162 has a reduced diameter end portion 163 that extends through the upper bearing plate 101 and to which an E-shaped spring washer 164 is secured. Telescoped with the shaft 162 and rotatable therewith and with the operating member 35 is a sleeve 161 to the forward end of which a yoke 165, FIGS. 7, 13 and 14, is secured. Normally the yoke 165 occupies the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 14 with the operating member 35 in the position shown in FIG. 3- and the movable contact 31 in engagement with the stationary contact 27. The arrangement is such that the operating member 35 tends to remain in either the one position shown in FIG. 3 or in the alternate position where the movable contact 31 is in engagement with the stationary contact 28. For shifting the operating member 35 from the one position to the alternate position the yoke 165 is provided with an arm 166 that carries a rearwardly extending flange 167. On continued rotation of the ratchet wheel 90 the cam lobe 119 engages the rearwardy extending flange 167, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and, on continued rotation in a clockwise direction, rocks the yoke 165 in a counterclockwise direction. This is accompanied by rotation of the operating member 35 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the alternate position. In this position of the operating member 35 the movable contact 31 is shifted out of engagement with the stationary contact 27 and into engagement with the stationary contact 28.

At a later time, which may be of the order of several minutes, the yoke 165 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction. For this purpose it is provided with an arm 168 that has a forwardly extending flange 169 which is arranged to be engaged by the cam lobe 120. On continued rotation of the ratchet wheel 90 and the rocking movement of the yoke 165 as caused by the cam lobe 120,

" thefaperating member 35 is rocked back from the alternate position to the one position shown in FIG. 3. This is accompanied by a shift of the movable contact 31 from engagement with stationary contact 28 back into engagement with stationary contact 27. The particular use that is made of the operation of the switch 16 in the manner described depends upon the particular circuits that are to be controlled and which form no part of the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show in more detail the manner in which the yoke 165 operates. FIG. 13 shows how the cam lobe 119 engages the rearwardly extending flange 167 on the arm 168 and rocks the yoke 165 in a clockwise direction. Subsequently, :as shown in FIG. 14, the cam lobe 120 engages the forwardly extending flange 169 on the arm 168 and rocks the yoke 165 and the parts rotataable therewith back to the initial or one position.

FIGS. 17 to 22 show a modification of the latch lever 123. Here it will be observed that the reference character 172 designates, generally, a U-shaped latch lever which has a flat bottom 173 and front and rear arms 174 and 175. In this modified construction the front and rear arms 174 and 175 are not provided with slots, such as the slots 127 and 128 in the front and rear arms 125 and 126 of the latch lever 123. Accordingly, the latch lever 172 can have only rotary movement with respect to the shaft 129 which extends from and is rotatable with the operating member 25. The operation of the switch 15 under the control of the. latch lever 172 is the same as previously described.

Along the lower edge of the flat bottom 173 of the latch lever 172 tongues 176, 177, 178 and 179 are provided for successive mechanical engagement by the cam lobes 116, 117, 118 and 119 respectively. It will be understood that, as these cam lobes successively engage the tongues along the lower edge of the flat bottom 173, the latch lever 172 is rocked from the posit-ion shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown in FIG. 18 and then is returned to the initial position as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20-.

In order to engage the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135, FIG. 22, which it will be recalled is secured to and rotates with the operating member 25, a locking lever 180 is employed. The locking lever 180 is rotatably mounted at 181 onan extension 182 from the rear arm 175 of the latch lever 172. A shoulder 183 on the locking lever 180, which extends generally 10 tion here shown. -A torsion spring 184 acts to bias the locking lever 180 to the locking position. One end 185 of the torsion spring 184 overlies and reacts against the upper edge 186 of the flat bottom 173 of the latch lever 172 while the other end 187 of the torsion spring 184 underlies an outstanding arm 188 on the locking lever 180. The relatively strong coil tension spring 139,- which is anchored at one end to the shaft or pin 138, is an- .chored at the other end to an inwardly extending arm 189 from the front arm 174 as shown in FIG. 22. Rocking movement of the latch lever 172 in a clockwise direction under the influence of the coil tension spring 139 is limited by .a tongue 190 which extends from the flat bottom 173 and is arranged to engage the stud 103.

The sequence of operations of the latch lever 172 is shown in FIGS. 17,18, 19 and 20 which correspond to FIGS. 7, 10, 11 and 12. The position of the latch lever 172 in FIG. 17corresponds to the position of the operating member 25 in the one position shown in FIG. 3 with the movable contact 21 in engagement with the stationary contact 17. As the index lever 82 is oscillated in the manner previously described, the unlatch lever 143 is correspondingly rocked to move the outstanding detent 144 into and out of engagement with a curved surface 191 on the locking lever 180. There is a corresponding rocking movement of the locking lever 180. However, since the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135 is above the curved surface 191, the locking lever 180 is rocked with an idling movement.

When the cam lobe 116, for example, engages the tongue 176, FIG. 18, the latch lever 172 is rocked to the position here shown where the locking lever 180 is moved to permit the shoulder 183 to engage the left side of the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135. On disengagement of the cam lobe 116 with the tongue 176, the relatively strong spring 139 rocks the latch lever 172 to the position shown in FIG. 19. This carries with it the latch arm 135 and effects movement of the operating member 25 from the one position, shown in FIG. 3, to the alternate position where the movable contact 21 engages the stationary contact 18. In the mean time, the unlatch lever 143 has been rotated to move the outstanding detent 144 out of engagement with the curved surface 191 on the locking lever 180. On a subsequent retraction of the index lever 82, the unlatch lever 143 is rocked by its spring to the position shown in FIG. 20 where the out-standing detent 144 engages the curved surface 191 and on continued downward movement depresses the locking lever to disengage the shoulder 183 from the forwardly extending section 134 of the latch arm 135. The relatively weak spring 137 then returns the latch arm 135 and the operating member 25 rotatable therewith to the one position which is accompanied by movement of the movable contact 21 from engagement with the stationary contact 18 back into engagement with the stationary contact 17.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a time switch, in combination,

(a) a switch,

(b) a rotatable operating member connected to said switch and movable from one position to an alternate position to effect corresponding operation of said switch,

-(c) a first spring biasing said operating member to said one position,

(d!)3 a latch arm rotatable with said operating mem- (e) a latch lever rotatable about the axis of rotation of said operating member and arranged and adapted to have latching engagement with said latch arm,

(f) a second spring biasing said latch lever and said latch arm when in engagement therewith and said operating member to said alternate position and against the force of said first spring,

(g) a rotatable ratchet wheel,

(h) an index pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel,

(i) timing means for oscillating said index pawl to rotate said ratchet wheel in step-by-Istep fashion, (j) cam means rotatable with said ratchet wheel for engaging said latch lever and moving it into latching engagement with said latch arm and on disengagement from said latch lever permitting said second spring to rotate said latch lever, latch arm and operating member to said alternate position, and

(k) an unlatch lever actuated by said index pawl and arranged and adapted to unlatch said latch lever from said latch arm whereupon said first spring rotates said operating member back to said one position.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cam means includes a plurality of angularly spaced cams for effecting a corresponding number of switch operations for each rotation of the ratchet wheel.

3. The invention, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

(a) each cam is carried by an individual cam plate,

and

(b) the cam plates are individually positionable about the axis of rotation of the ratchet wheel.

4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the latch lever is generally U-shaped with a flat bottom along one edge of which the cams are arranged to engage.

5. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the index pawl on movement in a forward direction advances the'ratchet wheel and thereby the cam means and on movement in a reverse direction causes operation of the unlatch lever in a direction to unlatch the latch lever from the latch arm.

6. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the ratchet wheel has teeth uniformly spaced along its periphery with one tooth missing thereby providing a tooth space,

(b) when the index pawl registers with said tooth space continued oscillation thereof by the timing means is ineffective to advance said ratchet wheel,

() the timing means includes a time dial that rotates once each twenty-four hours,

((1) a tripper lever is operable by said timingmeans during each revolution of said time dial for advancing said index pawl more than the space occupied by a tooth to move said tooth space out of registery with said index pawl, and

(e) a skipper dial driven by said timing means through one revolution during a whole number of days carries manually movable tripper pins which render inoperative said tripper lever except when one or more of said tripper pins is moved to trip position.

7.. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) a second switch is provided,

(b) a rotatable operating memberis connected to said second switch and is movable from one position to an alternate position to eifect corresponding operation of said second switch, and

12 (c) arm means on said rotatable operating member connected to said second switch is disposed in the path of the cam means rotatable with the ratchet Wheel for operating said second switch. 8. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the latch lever has elongated slot means whereby it is both rotatable about the axis of rotation of the operating member and is movable translatorily with respect thereto,

(b) said latch lever has a notch for receiving the latch arm in latching engagementtherewith, and (c) engagement of said latch lever by the cam means movesit to position said latch lever in said notch. 9. The invention, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the 15 latch lever is U-shaped and said elongated slot means includes an elongated slot in each of its arms.

10. The invention, as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) a spring biases the unlatch lever into operative engagement with the latch lever to move it out of latching engagement with the latch arm, and (b) the index pawl in its movement to rotate the ratchet wheel rotates said unlatch lever against the biasing action of the last mentioned spring. 11. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) a locking lever is pivoted on the latch lever, has

with, and

(b) the unlatch arm is arranged to rotate said locking.

lever to move said shoulder out of latching engagement with said latch arm.

12. The invention, as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) the latch lever is generally U-shaped, and

(b) the locking lever is pivoted to one of the arms of the U-shape on the inner side thereof.

13. The invention, as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

(a) the U-shaped latch lever has a flat bottom,

(b) the cam means includes a plurality of angularly spaced cams on individual cam plates that are positionable about the axis of rotation of the ratchet wheel, and

(c) the cams are arranged to engage one edge of said flat bottom of said U-shaped latch lever.

14. The invention, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the index pawl on movement in a forward direction advances the ratchet wheel and thereby the cams and on movement in a reverse direction causes operation of the unlatch lever in a direction to rotate the locking lever to move the shoulder thereon out of latching engagement with the latch arm.

No references cited. 

1. IN A TIME SWITCH, IN COMBINATION, (A) A SWITCH, (B) A ROTATABLE OPERATING MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID SWITCH AND MOVABLE FROM ONE POSITIONS TO AN ALTERNATE POSITION OF EFFECT CORRESPONDING OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH, (C) A FIRST SPRING BIASING SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO SAID ONE POSITION, (D) A LATCH ARM ROTATABLE SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO BER, (E) A LATCH LEVER ROTATABLE ABOUT THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND ARRANGED AND ADAPTED TO HAVE LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH ARM, (F) A SECOND SPRING BIASING SAID LATCH LEVER AND SAID LATCH ARM WHEN IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO SAID ALTERNATE POSITION AND AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID FIRST SPRING, (G) A ROTATABLE RATCHET WHEEL, (H) AN INDEX PAWL FOR ROTATING SAID RATCHET WHEEL, (I) TIMING MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID INDEX PAWL TO ROTATE SAID RATCHET WHEEL IN STEP-BY-STEP FASHION, (J) CAM MEANS ROTATABLE WITH SAID RATCHET WHEEL FOR ENGAGING SAID LATCH LEVER AND MOVING IN INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH ARM AND ON DISENGAGEMENT FROM SAID LATCH LEVER PERMITTING SAID SECOND SPRING TO ROTATE SAID LATCH LEVER, LATCH ARM AND OPERATING MEMBER TO SAID ALTERNATE POSITION, AND (K) AN UNLATCH LEVER ACTUATED BY SAID INDEX PAWL AND ARRANGED AND ADAPTED TO UNLATCH SAID LATCH LEVER FROM SAID LATCH ARM WHEREUPON SAID FIRST SPRING ROTATES SAID OPERATING MEMBER BACK TO SAID ONE POSITION. 